The Town FilesEmory, Texas
City in Rains County · population 1,251 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $218,100
- Household income
- $36,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 34.8
Emory is a city of 1,251 people in Rains County, Texas. The median home is worth $218,100, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Texas towns, quieter than 93% of Texas towns.
How Emory ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Emory is worth $218,100, above the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 6.0 times the median household income of $36,500, which is more affordable than 3% of Texas towns. Median rent is $940 a month. 47.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Emory | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $218,100 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $940 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $36,500 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.0× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 47.9% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Emory
| People | Emory | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.4% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.4% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.1% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 89.2% |
Weather in Emory
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 33.0°F. About 45.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.3 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 75 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 54 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emory since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 29, 2017 about 7.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 4, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 24, 2026.
Severe weather in Rains County since 1996
Rains County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Rains County
Rains County had 2,339 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $43,966 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Emory itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Emory
4 public schools with 1,738 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| RAINS H S | 9-12 | 522 | 12.1 |
| RAINS EL | PK-2 | 427 | 15.8 |
| RAINS J H | 6-8 | 414 | 12.9 |
| RAINS INT | 3-5 | 375 | 15.0 |
Towns near Emory
- Point, TX7.0 mi · 745 people · home $158,600
- East Tawakoni, TX9.9 mi · 824 people · home $168,200
- Lone Oak, TX13.0 mi · 643 people · home $168,000
- Grand Saline, TX14.1 mi · 3,107 people · home $119,600
- Edgewood, TX14.5 mi · 1,530 people · home $225,000
- West Tawakoni, TX15.7 mi · 1,895 people · home $97,000
- Wills Point, TX18.1 mi · 3,747 people · home $189,700
- Cumby, TX18.3 mi · 679 people · home $118,800
Emory questions
Is Emory, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Emory scores better for retirees than 98% of Texas towns and quieter than 93%. 26.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.8).
How much does a house cost in Emory?
The median owner-occupied home in Emory is valued at $218,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,500, so homes cost about 6.0 times income. Median rent is $940 a month.
What is the weather like in Emory?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 33.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.3 inches of snow.
Does Emory get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Emory since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 29, 2017. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)